The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has applauded President Bola Tinubu for his appeal to the protesting masses to embrace dialogue.
The group’s commendation was contained in a statement released on Sunday, 4 August by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani.
CISLAC noted that the president’s appeal to the protesters to suspend further street demonstrations and embrace dialogue showed his commitment to listening to and addressing the citizens’ grievances driving these protests.
It said: “President Tinubu emphasized the need for unity and collective effort in reshaping the nation’s future, calling on all Nigerians, irrespective of age, political affiliation, tribe, or religion, to work together for a better Nigeria.
“CISLAC stands firmly with the demands for justice and reform within the administrative justice system and improved governance, as this will ensure a just and prosperous nation where peace, freedom, and meaningful livelihoods are enjoyed under a transparent and accountable government.
“President Tinubu and his appointees must stop their concerted efforts to link the protests and grievances of Nigerians to political agendas. Such attempts divert attention from the pressing reality of deep poverty affecting millions of Nigerians. Instead, the government should focus on inclusively improving the economy”.
Continuing, CISLAC appreciated President Tinubu’s unequivocal stance against ethnic division and threats, underscoring their incompatibility with Nigeria’s aspirations.
“CISLAC emphasizes the importance of maintaining peace, law, and order while upholding human rights in line with international conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory. “The safety and security of all Nigerians are paramount”, it added.
To the country’s security operatives, the rights group advised that they should heed the president’s call for respect for human rights, ensuring that peace, law, and order were maintained in accordance with these principles.
It said the president must also give a clear directive to the security agencies not to engage in human rights violations, just as it urged all stakeholders to accept the call for dialogue.
“Open and constructive conversations are essential to addressing the underlying causes of unrest and finding sustainable solutions. CISLAC remains committed to supporting these efforts and contributing to the realization of a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Nigeria”, it concluded.
Meanwhile, the CLEEN Foundation at the weekend condemned the use of juveniles as shields in the ongoing protests in parts of the country.
The group in its report titled “Observation on the Conduct of Law Enforcement Personnel During the Nationwide #EndBadGovernance Protests in Nigeria”, the group said its observation of the protest revealed the troubling development.
It recommended among other things that the dialogue should be opened between the government and the youth to address their concerns and efforts made to meet their realistic demands.
CLEEN Foundation also advised security agencies to ensure proper equipping of operatives deployed for the protest to ensure their safety and security, as well as those of the protesting citizens.
“The use of force must be proportionate to the threats. All allegations of misconduct by law enforcement agencies or against them should be investigated and perpetrators brought to justice.
“The CLEEN Foundation also urges protesters to remain peaceful and avoid taking the law into their own hands. They should stop using juveniles as shields.
“Hospitals should ensure that protesters who have sustained injuries during the protests are well taken care of, and the lives of victims of gunshots should be saved first before demanding police reports.
“Civil society organisations and other stakeholders should continue to monitor the protests closely, and document their observations”, it stated.
